Background

Hey, we just had our one-and-a-half day retreat yesterday, and now it’s over. We had it at the Cursillo Retreat House of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Concepcion at F. Torres Street, Davao City.

A day before the retreat, final room assignments were announced. Rooms had an average of three occupants though there was one room with eight occupants and some with only two. I happened to be assigned in the room for two and my only roommate was Elikim.

We were not allowed to use our cellular phones throughout the course of the retreat, but it didn’t mind it since I don’t own one. Just like any batch retreat, strict rules and regulations are to be followed.

Assessment

PLACE. The place was wonderful. Seldom can you see a silent and solemn place in the middle of a busy metropolitan (near nighttime hangout places).

ROOM. Our room was the smallest room since there were only two beds (compared to other two-bed rooms, our’s was still a lot smaller) but it was nice. It was better than I expected it to be. My bed was soft and bouncy, while my pillow was as hard as a rock.

FOOD. The food was average, not that good and not that bad. But still, I managed to eat a LOT. Our table was the only table with no food left on the serving plates every after meal.

ACTIVITIES. Honestly, the activities were not that effective, it could have been better. I don’t feel any change in me after the activity. I think I share the same sentiments with my other batchmates. There were some (minimal) activities though which I enjoyed.

The Fun Activity

One of them was the time when everyone was invited to reconcile with enemies and thank friends. There were a little of us who wept, but I think I wept the most tears.

I wept after someone approached me and said either a sorry or a thank you. I can’t vividly remember it cause the moment she approached me, I froze for a while but I think it was more of a sorry.
If ever it was really a sorry, I’d be confused cause I find no reason for her to ask for forgiveness. I think I should have been the one who asked her forgiveness for all my not-so-bitter bitterness but if it was the latter, I’d gladly accept it and will thank her more in our last few days in Pisay. I’d thank her for everything she has done to me.

Up to now, I still can’t comprehend why I froze and wept. I think I was overwhelmed with happiness cause I did not expect it to happen. I have thought of apologizing and thanking her, but I did not have the enough courage.

You’ve Got Mail

Another activity which I enjoyed. It was a letter-writing activity to two or three people. I can’t hardly believe that Mariel, my elementary schoolmate and internshipmate, gave me a letter. She only prepared three letters: one for her parents, then for an enemy and another for me.

I also made three letters: one for my elementary teachers which will be mailed thru the country’s excellent PhilPost, one one-sentence letter to Gerwin, and the missing (got lost in the middle of the retreat) letter to a special someone.

and now I’m tired of writing.

Therefore, I’ll end this post with a sweet goodbye.

Sorry, no pictures. Electronic gadgets were collected by our teachers before the activity.